Smart Tabs?

[SkunkBoat]

Now that I have a completely wood-free transom, I'm considering Nauticus Smart Tabs. https://youtu.be/rQub7Q_1Euo

At about $130 bucks and a half hour of install time, is it too good to pass up or too good to be true?

I don't have much complaints about my ride now but I hear all you guys talking up the improved performance of tabs.
Not going to ever go the hydraulic route with tabs, too much hassle & $.... I'd rather get hydraulic steering for the price & effort.
Opinions on Hydraulic steering welcome also...

[smokeonthewater]

Smart tabs are the BEST $130 you'll ever spend on your boat.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I wouldn't spend the money for them. Go electric, hydraulic, or don't. They say they're ok to help get a boat on plane and for porpoise control, but thats mostly it. They have a use, but I don't think you'll see a great benefit from them. If you don't want to spend the money, hut want to help get on plane quicker with better trim control, I would look into a permatrim.

[Blue_Runner]

Realizing the subject has been covered many times on here.......if I were to put tabs on the V21 what size and electric or hydraulic?

[Destroyer]

I have Hydraulic and I love them.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I've had both, and liked both. The elctric actuators are faster to respond as there is no waiting for the pump to build pressure, then move a ram. Electric does have a downfall, and that is moisture intrusion, and poor connections that lead to electrolisys. Hydraulics work fine, but is a bit more complex having hydraulic rams on the transom to push the tabs down, hoses to connect them to a pump, a pump with solenoids and valves to give trouble(so long as they are kept out of water, they normally do pretty good), a motor, and you also have the elctrical wiring for them with the same problems as the elctric tabs. As to the size, that depends on what style you want, and your transom shape. I like having a large tab, so you don't have to put them down as far to work, and I think it makes them more effective at slow speeds.

As to smart tabs, I started to put them on my 14 foot skiff I had before as the transom on it would have worked with them, but actually had 2 different shops talk me out of them, and had me buy a hydrofoil for less money. I know they help with some boats, but if I'm going to do tabs, I want to be able to control them myself to get full advantage of them.

[Blue_Runner]

good info ferm. I saw some bennett electric tabs 12 x 9 I think for around 2x what the smart tabs go for. Something to think about.

Destroyer what size and do you have a swim platform - if so did you have to notch it?